DIGITAL.NEOSKOSMOS.COM THE WEEKEND NEOS KOSMOS | SATURDAY 6 FEBRUARY 2016 5 NEWS People power topples twin towers Planning permit refused for 10-storey complex in Oakleigh MICHAEL SWEET Monash Council has refused to issue a planning permit for a 10-storey apartment and retail complex in Atherton Road, Oakleigh after the proposal attracted more than 500 objections from local residents. Monash Mayor Stefanie Perri said the council, its planning staff and the local community were united in their view that the proposal was at odds with Oakleigh's character. A concerted campaign against the development in recent months saw residents raise major concerns about the scale of the development, its impact on traffic and onstreet parking, and loss of privacy. "This building would have overpowered the lovely neighbourhood character of Oakleigh. It would have stood out like a sore thumb," Cr Perri said. "Oakleigh is generally characterised by low-rise buildings, with a few strategic sites where taller buildings are seen as appropriate.” Cr Perri added that while the developer had the option of appealing the council's decision to the Victorian Civil Administrative Tribunal, she hoped cooler heads would prevail. Oakleigh Ward Councillor Bill Pontikis told Neos Kosmos that the development failed to comply with the council's planning framework that guides the scale of development within the Oakleigh Activity Centre. "Council heard from its residents and I supported the officer's recommendation to refuse this application," said Cr Pontikis. "I would encourage the de- veloper to speak to council officers in determining a more suitable, lower-scale development for this site." Fellow councillor Theo Zographos, who owns a property close to the site, said the proposal was "completely out of character with the area and if approved by VCAT, will ruin Oakleigh forever". Historic agreement CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 GCM board member and former member of NUGAS Phillip Vassiliadis noted that with the completion of the Greek Centre, NUGAS must be engaged in more ways than simply using the building. "I was involved with NUGAS during my student years and then for a number of years was not involved in any community organisations before I joined the GCM board," said Mr Vassiliadis. He further noted that "such initiatives from Tass and the NUGAS board aim at bringing the Greek Community of Melbourne and NUGAS closer". "Members can now actively participate in both organisations with the view that when they finish university and start their professional careers they can maintain engagement with the Greek Community, and I firmly believe that becoming members of the GCM is the best way to achieve this." The importance of becoming a member of the Greek Community was underlined by newly-elected board member Angela Georgalis. "After university I felt some disconnection from the Greek community because I was not involved, and I believe that there is now a way for myself and young students and the younger Greek community to have a connection via the GCM. I think this way it will keep everyone in touch." Costas Markos, GCM general secretary, described the agreement as a natural process, as NUGAS has been housed in the GCM building for more than 30 years. "It is a natural development for our students to become members of the Greek Community. This provides an op- portunity for young people to engage with our organisation but also with the broader Greek community. “We believe that with the continuation of the GCM programs and with the introduction of new initiatives, the GCM will attract young Greek Australian to positions of leadership in the very near future." He also underlined the fact that for the first time all the members of the GCM board of directors were born in Australia. "This is a tremendous achievement," he noted in conclusion. CBA under fire for alleged $76m fraud The Commonwealth Bank has come under fire after having failed to alert police of fraud allegations involving members of staff, despite management's awareness since February 2007. Those alleged to be behind the $76 million scam are professional poker player Bill Jordanou and accountant Robert Zaia. According to a report by Fairfax Media, the staff were allegedly complicit in a Ponzi scheme and received commissions for their involvement, all of which was ignored by the bank for some five years. Artist’s illustration of the proposed Atherton Road development. Mr Jordanou and Mr Zaia are accused of borrowing millions of dollars, siphoned from client's accounts without their knowledge or consent, and used for a number of property developments, which never eventuated. ‘No’ to an upgrade of the pseudo-state’s status Despite the growing optimism for a solution to the Cyprus issue, Australian Cypriots remain committed to their struggle for justice. During the 44th Pan-Australian Convention of the the Federation of Cyprus Communities of Australia & New Zealand convention held in Adelaide last weekend, a statement was issued warning of the attempts to upgrade the Turkish-Cypriot ‘pseudostate's’ status in the international community, as part of the talks for a unification of the torn country. The gradual approach of the Cypriot state and the Turkish Cypriot community has led to a prevailing sentiment of hope among the international community and the prospect of a federation seems to be more realistic than ever. Recently, Cypriot president Nikos Anastasiadis pledged that he will deliver a unified Cyprus by the end of his term in 2018, but this should not be the cause of complacency, noted Constantinos Prokopiou, president of the Pan-Australian Justice for Cyprus Coordinating Committee (PASEKA), in a statement he made during the convention. "At this stage of talks, we should not allow any upgrade of the pseudo-state's status that could influence the course of negociations, or even the increase of the Turkish-Cypriot community irrational demands, when we reach the final stage. “There are cases of recent such attempts in Australia, which we should address effectively." Echoing this sentiment, the president of the Federation of Cyprus Communities of Australia & New Zealand, Michael Christodoulou, made an impression with his personal address to the federal MP of Hindmarsh, Matt Williams, in which he sent a message to the Australian government to refrain from withdrawing its police precence in Cyprus, before a viable solution to the Cyprus problem is reached. WEDDING OPEN DAY 2016 Discuss the finer details of your big day with our inspirational suppliers over a champagne brunch. Explore our luxurious venue and discover what our dedicated team can do for you. Sunday 7th February 2016 10:30am - 12:30pm The Centre Ivanhoe 275 Upper Heidelberg Rd, Ivanhoe 03 9049 3355 thecentreivanhoe.com.au A victim of the alleged fraud is Melbourne property developer Nick Fotopoulos, who has decided to take civil action against the bank after losing more than $5 million. While the bank refused to explain why it didn't alert police earlier of suspicions, a CBA spokesperson did state the "CBA has zero tolerance to bribery, corruption and facilitation payments across the business and will continue to cooperate with the police and the legal pro- cess as this complicated issue unfolds in the courts". Mr Jordanou and Mr Zaia are expected to face court in February 2017, the pair likely to plead not guilty to almost 100 fraud and deception offences. Y OU’RE THE CENTRE 50964